In pitch dark at 40 below, a research expedition set out to the icy Arctic Ocean in January 2015.Their goal: to better understand ongoing changes in the Arctic due to a shift from an older and thicker ice cover that would survive the summer melt to a younger and thinner one that, to a larger degree, melts away in the summer.

The Secretary-General, Mr Michel Jarraud, recently made official visits to a number of Member countries as briefly reported below. He wishes to place on record his gratitude to those Members for the kindness and hospitality extended to him.